Mounting for pictures, panels, and the like



Jan. 3, 1933. s. HAMMER MOUNTING FOR PICTURES, PANELS, AND THE LIKEFiled April 5, 1932 llHH INVENTOR- I Jamaal Ham er 1M ATTORN PatentedJan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE SAMUEL HAMMER, on BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, AssIGNon T UNITED METAL BOX 00., INC., on BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION on NEW YORK MOUNTING FOB, PICTURES, PANELS, AND THE LIKEApplication filed April 5,

This invention relates to an improved mounting for pictures, panels andthe like, and has for its general object and purpose to provide a deviceof this kind whereby, to all appearances, the picture or panel seems tobe permanently framed or mounted but which is so constructed as topermit of the easy and quick removal of the picture or panel from theframe and the substitution of another in its place.

More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, I providea picture or panel mounting having a base provided with upstandingspaced longitudinally extending flanges thereon, in combination with aframing strip of channel shape in cross section to receive the marginalside and top edges of the panel, and means for detachably and rigidlylocking the ends of said framing strip in connection with the base andwith the side flanges of said strip in the plane of the base flanges.This locking means is substantially invisible so that the panel orpicture appears to be entirely surrounded by a continuous framing strippermanently mounted on the base.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a picture orpanel mounting having the above noted desirable features, and whereinthe several parts constituting said mounting may be produced in a greatvariety of ornamental and attractive forms and at comparatively lowcost, so that such a mounting, in addition to being em ployed in theframing of photographs, may also be profitably produced and sold at areasonable retail price and used as a mount or support for advertisingpanels and the like and in the window display of merchandise.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved picture or panel mounting, and in the form, construction andrelative arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, andsubsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

.In the drawing wherein I have disclosed one simple and practicalembodiment of the Serial No. 603,283.

invention, and in which similar reference characters designate thecorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a perspective view suggestively illustrating one desirableform of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the basestructure, and showing the framed panel mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. a: is a horizontal sectional view as indicated by the line 4-4L inFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view partly broken lilQ removed;

an v of the base, the panel and its frame be- Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryperspective View of certain of the parts in separated relation;

and

covered by a sheet of felt or other nonabrasive material indicated at 6to prevent marring or scratching of the surface of the table or othersupport upon which the base may be positioned.

A top section of the base generally indicated at 7 is composed of one ormore stamped sheet metal parts, and as herein shown, has stepped sideand end marginal flanges indicated at 8, the lower free edges of saidflanges having tight frictional overlapping engagement upon thecorresponding edges of the base plate 5 or upon the felt material 6which may extend over the edges of said plate and upon the upper surfacethereof. The outer exposed surfaces of the 'sheet metal top section '7of the base may be chromium plated to enhance the ornamental appearanceof the article.

The top section 7 of the base structure is provided centrally thereofwith a longitudi- Dally extending slot 9 and the upstanding flanges 10along the opposite longitudinal edges of said slot. These flanges, asclearly shown in Fig.

, at their opposite ends terminate a short distance from each end of theslot 9, and the outer side faces of said flanges are positioned in thevertical plane of the side edges of said slot. The purpose of thisarrangement of said flanges will hereinafter become apparent.

In spaced relation to each end of the slot 9, the sheet metal topsection of the base is further provided with a transversely elongatedrectangular opening 11 therethrough and between this opening. and theend of the slot with an additional opening 12.

The base structure further includes a second metal plate 13. In thepresent instance, I have shown this plate as being rigidly fixed orheld; in contact with the underside ofthe uppermost. wall of the topsection 7 by interposing the angularly disposed lugs 15 on the lowerends of the ornamental standards 14 between said plate and the lowermostbase plate 5. These standards extend upwardly through notches orrecesses 16 in the ends of the plate. 13 and through the openings 11 inthe top section 7 of the base.. In this arrangement, I have shown theseveral parts secured in rigidly assembled relation by means of thescrews 17 extending upwardly through openings in the base plate 5 andthrough registering openings 18 and 19 in the plate 13'and the lugs 15respectively, said screws projecting upwardly through the openings 12 inthe top section 7 and being threaded into the ornamentally formed members 20 which are positioned upon the top sec tion 7 between thestandards 14: and the flanges 10. The plate 13is additionally providedat each end thereof with an opening 21 registering with one end of theslot 9 in the top section 7 v of the base.

' It will be seen from the above description, that the plates 5 and 13impart to the base of the mounting the necessary weight and stability.However, the specific structure refe'r'redto is not essential and itwill be evident that if desired the separate ornamental parts 20 may bedispensed with, and such parts formed as integral portions of thestandards 14 into the lower ends of which the screws 17 may be threaded.

The side and top edges of the panel to be mounted upon the basestructure are fitted within the channels of the sheet metal framingstrip 22. This framing strip may also be chromium plated or have itssurface otherwise treated and ornamented to harmonize or contrast withthe surface of the top section 7 of the base structure. While the panelenclosed by said frame may consist of a single part, I have indicated inFig. 3 of the drawing an arrangement whereby two photographs orhalf-tone prints, lithographs or the like may be arranged for view fromopposite sides of the article. In this case, the two photographs orprints indicated at 23 are arranged backto back with an opaque sheet 2lto prevent the penetration of light rays interposed therebetween. ofeach picture 23 hearing the image, a glass plate or panel 25 ispositioned. These asseinbled parts are then inserted at their side andtop marginal edges into the'channels of the framing strip 22, while thelatter is disposedin an inverted position from that indicated in thedrawing. By then returning the frame and the composite'panel to uprightposition, and disposing the same at a slight angle to the base, the endsof the framing strip which project beyond one end of the glass plates25, may be inserted downwardly through the ends of the slot 9 andthrough the coinciding openings 21 in the base plate 13 until'they restupon the base plate 5, the lower edges of the composite parts of thepanel fitting snugly between the upstanding flanges 10 on the topsection7 of the base. The opposite side portions of the framingstrip 22intermediate of their endsare provided with rectangular openings 26therein and the upperend of each. standard 14 is formed with an inwardlyprojecting part 27 having a short centrally located, lug 28 thereon.These standards maybe sprung laterally and outwardly from their juncture. with the rigidly fixed lugs 15 at the lower ends thereof for asuilicient distance to enable the framing strip 22 with: the panelenclosed thereby to be structure. Upon then releasing theupper ends ofthe standards, they will spring inwardly to theirnormal positi0ns, th6lugs.

28 thereof enteringthe openings26, and thus producing an interlockedconnection between said standards and theframingstrip. c, This specificmanner of detachably locking the panel framing strip in connection withthe base structure, while entirely practical, is not of courseindispensable and various other alternatives therefor might be readilydevised and employed. The essential feature to be noted infthisconnection is that owing to the arrangement of the flanges 10onthesection? of the base, when the channel framing strip is thus interlockedin its assembled position on said base structure, the lnwardlyprojecting side flangesof said framing strip and separated from the.base structure.

Afterwards;thepanel isremoved from the channels of the strip 22 and thenew panel Over the exposed side PlQVGCl to a perpendicular position onthe base inserted in place thereof. The framing strip, together with thenew panel may then be mounted upon the base structure of the device inthe manner above explained.

From the above description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use and severaladvantages of my improved mounting for pictures, panels and the likewill be clearly understood. It will be seen that the picture or panelmay be very ornamentally displayed, and by reason of the detachableconnection between the framing strip and the base structure of themounting, a variety of interchangeable framing strips of differentornamental configurations may be selectively used to suit the taste ordesires of the individual. By completely framing the glass protectingplates and the picture or pictures, in addition to enhancing theattractiveness of the mounted picture, the edges of the glass plates areprotected against chipping or cracking in the event that the mount isaccidenta ly overturned. However, in view of i the heavy and substantialbase structure provided, this will seldom occur.

I have herein disclosed a simple and satisfactory embodiment of mypresent invention, but it is nevertheless to be understood that insofaras the essential features of the present disclosures are concerned, thesame may likewise be embodied in various other alternative structuralforms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all suchlegitimate modifications thereof as may be fairly incorporated withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a base, a panel supporting frame, said basehaving supporting means engaged by one end of the frame, standardsrising from the base eXteriorly of the frame and laterally movablerelative thereto, each of said standards and opposite sides of the framehaving coacting manually disengageable means detachably securing thesaid frame in a fixed upright position upon the base. I

2. In combination with a base having spaced upstanding flanges thereon,a channelled frame open at one end to receive a. panel adapted to bepositioned at one of its ends between said flanges, and means forsecuring said frame in an upright position upon the base with theopposite side flanges of said frame abutting the ends of said spacedupstanding flanges on the base and with the outer side faces of saidabutting flanges positioned in a common plane.

3. In combination with a base having spaced upstanding flanges thereon,a channelled frame open at one end to receive a panel adapted to bepositioned at one of its ends between said flanges, said base havingopenings to receive the side portions of the frame at the latter endthereof and whereby the side flanges of said frame are positioned in theplanes of the upstanding flanges on the base, and means on said basecooperating with the frame to detachably lock the latter in an uprightposition on the base.

4. In combination with a base having spaced upstanding flanges thereon,a ehannelled frame open at one end to receive a panel adapted to bepositioned at one of its ends between said flanges, said base havingopenings to receive the side portions of the frame at the latter endthereof and whereby the side flanges of said frame are positioned in theplanes of the upstanding flanges on the base, standards fixed at theirlower ends to the base, and means on the upper end of each standardcoacting with means on one side of the frame for detachably locking saidframe in an upright position on the base.

5. In combination with a base having spaced upstanding flanges thereon,a channelled frame open at one end to receive a panel adapted to bepositioned at one of its ends between said flanges, said base havingopenings to receive the side portions of the frame at the latter endthereof and whereby the side flanges of said frame are positioned in theplanes of the upstanding flanges on the base, standards fixed at theirlower ends to said base and laterally yieldable relative thereto, andmeans integrally formed at the upper end of each standard and releasablycoacting with means 011 one side of the frame to detachably lock thelatter in an upright position on the base.

6. In combination with a base having means extending longitudinallythereof to closely engage opposite sides of the lower edge of avertically positioned panel, a frame strip of channel-shaped form incross section to receive the opposite side and one end edges of saidpanel, and means on the base cooperating with opposite side portions ofsaid frame strip to rigidly and detachably secure said frame strip atits ends in connected relation with the base and in laterally abuttingcontact with the opposite ends of said panel engaging means thereof.

7. In combination with a base, a frame, means on the base coacting withthe frame to removably support the latter in upright position, standardsfixed to the base at their lower ends exteriorly of the frame at eachside thereof, each standard having a manually adjustable upper endportion provided with means releasably coacting with means on one sideof the frame to detachably lock the latter in its upright position onthe base.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

SAMUEL HAMMER.

